A television repairer, believed to be an alleged kingpin in a robbery syndicate, adept in robbing cabbie passengers, has been arrested by the Suntreso District Police Command in Kumasi.
Gideon Baah, 25, was arrested on Wednesday, October 8, together with the KIA Pride taxi cab which was used for the operation.
Two of his accomplices, Emmanuel Appiah alias Kofi Yesu, and one Kwadwo, are on the run.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Vitus Napen, Suntreso District Police Commander, told the media in Kumasi that the syndicate has been operating at Abuakwa, Santasi Roundabout, and other vicinities around, until their arrest at Suntreso on that fateful day, October 8.
DSP Napen explained that their mode of operation is that they use the cab for commercial purposes with one always with the driver at the front and another at the back seat.
They then will solicit for one passenger at a time, especially a lady, and then lock all the doors using the car�s central locking system.
When the passenger gets to the destination, they will ask him or her to open the door from the back, and as the unsuspecting passenger struggles to open the locked door, they will rob him or her, unlock the door and open it for the victim to get down and speed off.
DSP Napen said, sometimes too, they forcibly rob passengers at gun point.
He said, luck eluded the robbers when they used the same trick on one Asamoah Atuahene, who after robbing him of an amount of GH₵500, pushed him out of the vehicle when they got to South Suntreso Junction, near the Sofo-Line interchange, while the car was still moving.
DSP Napen said, unknown to them, another vehicle which had a policeman on board was closely following them, and when they noticed that, the robbers abandoned the taxi and bolted.
The policeman managed to arrest Baah, but his accomplices escaped.
A search on the cab uncovered a toy pistol and three cellular phones, which have since been identified by their owners.
The District Commander, therefore, advised public to be vigilant, and ensure they take the registration numbers of taxis before getting on board, whilst they also make it a habit to take taxis at recognized taxi ranks.
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